Foden red card in derby narrowly supported by panel

Phil Foden received a three-match suspension and will miss the Carabao Cup tie against Norwich and Premier League games with Sunderland and Liverpool [Getty Images] The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has supported Phil Foden's red card in the Manchester derby - but on a split 3:2 vote. The Manchester City midfielder was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Two panellists "felt that the action lacked the force to reach the threshold for a red card, and would have preferred a yellow". The KMI panel unanimously supported no video assistant referee (VAR) intervention. Fernandes - who initially appeared to kick Foden, leading to retaliation - escaped with no disciplinary action. The decision not to show the Portugal midfielder a red card was backed by a 5:0 vote, both on-field and through VAR. All KMI panel members "felt that a yellow card would have been the appropriate punishment". City won the game 1-0 through a controversial Erling Haaland goal in the 60th minute, which was awarded after a VAR intervention. Haaland was given offside by the assistant referee's flag, with VAR Matt Donohue finding that the Norway forward was actually onside. However, referees' chief Howard Webb admitted that the VAR did not even consider whether Enzo Fernandez was offside when he attempted to head the ball just before Haaland scored. The KMI panel unanimously felt that the VAR intervention to award the goal was incorrect. "Fernandez is in an offside position, attempts to play the ball that is close to him, and impacts the ability of the defender and the goalkeeper to play the ball in the process," the panel noted. "A VAR review should have been recommended for a missed subjective offside in the attacking possession phase."